Buyer Database · Sales Agent · Updated
HanWay Films
HanWay Films actively represents international rights to prestige, female-driven dramas and high-concept genre features, with CEO Gabrielle Stewart publicly championing barrier-breaking original projects at major markets including AFM and Sundance.
Current mandate
HanWay Films is currently positioned as the international sales agent on prestige, high-concept features with strong female leads and awards-season potential. The company's active slate includes "Lady," introduced to Sundance audiences and described by CEO Gabrielle Stewart as a story of dynamic fresh talent set in Lagos, and "Hey Bear," a star-driven genre feature with Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis that was introduced to buyers at AFM. HanWay handles international rights while North American representation is coordinated with partners including WME Independent. Recent catalog additions include "Extra Geography" and "The Julia Set," both acquired with budgets not disclosed.
Stewart's public statements consistently foreground originality, emotional connection, and barrier-breaking premises as the company's acquisition criteria. Projects with complex, morally ambiguous female characters exploring themes of violence, maternal instinct, and obsession align directly with HanWay's current editorial positioning. The company's festival-and-market sales approach, with launchpads at Sundance and AFM, reflects a deliberate awards-season strategy.
Sellers seeking international representation for prestige drama or elevated genre material should approach HanWay through its London-based team, with 27 decision makers tracked across the organization. The company's activity record shows 25 total signals over the past 12 months, with the most recent signal logged in May 2026. Outreach timed to major market cycles, particularly AFM and Sundance, is consistent with how HanWay publicly activates new titles.
Signature peaks
- "Lady" Current Flagship Title — Introduced at Sundance; Lagos-set prestige drama described by CEO Stewart as transporting and impactful
- "Hey Bear" AFM Active Title — Star-driven genre feature with Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis; introduced to buyers at AFM
- 2 Titles Recent Catalog Additions — "Extra Geography" and "The Julia Set" both acquired; budgets not disclosed
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- drama
- Territory focus
- International (HanWay); North American (WME Independent)
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- HanWay Films is most accessible during major market cycles, with AFM and Sundance confirmed as active launch windows based on recent title activity. CEO Gabrielle Stewart is the named decision maker on acquisitions and has made on-record statements about project criteria, making her the primary contact for prestige or genre projects seeking international representation. With 27 decision makers tracked across the organization, there are multiple potential entry points for sellers. Outreach should emphasize originality, emotional protagonist journeys, and female-driven narratives to align with Stewart's publicly stated acquisition philosophy.
- Deal structure
- HanWay Films operates as the international sales agent, handling rights outside North America. North American representation on its titles is managed by separate partners; WME Independent is referenced in available coverage as a co-representative on at least one current title. Budgets on recent acquisitions, including "Extra Geography" and "The Julia Set," are not disclosed. The company's deal flow is structured around festival and market introductions, with AFM and Sundance serving as primary buyer-facing launchpads. Independently financed, high-concept, star-driven features appear to be the preferred deal type based on current slate composition.
Recent representations
-
Extra Geography
-
The Julia Set
Market context
"There is nothing more thrilling than coming across a project that breaks barriers in terms of originality. As absurd and crazy as the premise of this story is, you always fully connect and empathise with Claire's journey as she figures out how out of grief, to take ownership of her life again." — Gabrielle Stewart, CEO, HanWay Films
Aligns with market trend toward female-driven prestige dramas with complex, morally ambiguous characters; positions within awards-season strategy through festival/market sales approach
Common questions about HanWay Films
What kinds of films does HanWay Films represent for international sales?
HanWay Films represents prestige drama and elevated genre features with strong international appeal. Current and recent titles include "Lady," a female-driven drama set in Lagos introduced at Sundance, and "Hey Bear," a high-concept genre feature with a star cast including Mia Goth, Dan Stevens, and Zach Galifianakis. CEO Gabrielle Stewart has publicly stated a preference for projects that break barriers in originality while maintaining deep emotional connection to the protagonist's journey. Complex, morally ambiguous female characters are a consistent throughline across the slate.
Does HanWay Films do pre-sales, and how does that process work?
HanWay Films operates as an international sales agent, which means pre-sales to territory buyers are a core part of its business model. The company uses major festival and market launchpads, specifically Sundance and AFM, to introduce titles to buyers. "Hey Bear" was reportedly introduced to buyers at AFM, consistent with a pre-sales or early-market strategy. North American rights on projects HanWay handles internationally are typically managed by separate partners, such as WME Independent, reflecting a coordinated multi-agent structure common in independently financed features.
Which markets and festivals does HanWay Films use to sell films?
HanWay Films actively uses AFM (American Film Market) and Sundance as primary launchpads for new titles. "Hey Bear" was introduced to international buyers at AFM, and "Lady" was positioned for Sundance audiences, according to CEO Gabrielle Stewart's public statements. This festival-and-market sales approach is consistent with an awards-season strategy, targeting buyers in key international territories during the industry's highest-traffic acquisition windows. The company's activity signals across 12 months suggest ongoing engagement beyond single-market cycles.
How do I reach HanWay Films to pitch or submit a project?
HanWay Films is a London-based international sales company with 27 decision makers tracked across the organization, according to ScriptMatch data. The most practical entry points are timed to major market cycles: AFM and Sundance are confirmed active periods based on recent title launches. CEO Gabrielle Stewart is the publicly named decision maker on acquisitions and has made on-record statements about project criteria. Outreach framing originality, emotional resonance, and a strong female lead is consistent with her stated acquisition philosophy. No direct submission portal is referenced in available coverage.
What are HanWay Films' strongest international territories?
HanWay Films handles international rights broadly, with North American rights on its titles managed separately, reportedly by partners such as WME Independent. The company's slate, which includes a Lagos-set drama ("Lady") and a star-driven English-language genre feature ("Hey Bear"), suggests positioning across both English-language and non-English-language international markets. Specific territory performance data is not disclosed in available coverage, but the company's prestige drama focus and awards-season strategy indicate prioritization of major European and English-language international territories.
Is HanWay Films actively acquiring new projects right now?
HanWay Films recorded 25 activity signals over the past 12 months, with the most recent signal logged in May 2026, according to ScriptMatch tracking data. Unique deal activity in the 30- and 90-day windows shows no new closed deals in that short window, though the company's recent catalog additions, "Extra Geography" and "The Julia Set," were both acquired within the past year. CEO Gabrielle Stewart's public statements at Sundance and AFM confirm active market participation. The company's pipeline appears to be in a representation and sales phase rather than a heavy acquisition phase at present.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Banijay Rights — Banijay Rights is actively placing premium scripted series and factual formats across international
- mk2 Films — mk2 Films is riding a high-profile awards season while positioning Justine Triet's psychological thr
- Keshet International — Keshet International is actively taking its supernatural drama Nutuk to Mipcom buyers while a local
- Fox Entertainment Global — Fox Entertainment Global is a fledgling international sales and distribution outfit actively licensi
Related reading
Match your script to HanWay Films
This is a public snapshot of HanWay Films, kept current from trade-press signals. Inside ScriptMatch, upload your script to see whether HanWay Films fits, why, and exactly how to reach them. Start a free 7-day trial or try the free buyer-match tool.